Fish-landing net



. July13, 1954 s; FABER 2,683,321

' I FISH-LANDING 'NET Filed April 6. 1950 Patented July 13, 1954 FISH-LANDING NET Saul Faber, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Chesal In dustries, Chicago, Ill., a copartnership Application April 6, 1950, Serial No. 154,266

(Cl. l13 12) u 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in fishlanding nets and has for an object the provision of such a net which is relatively light, sturdy and strong, and which may be readily folded up into smaller compass for carrying and protection and is readily and quickly unfolded and made ready for use.

lOther objects of this invention are, severally, to provide a foldable net of simple construction and few parts which fold and unfold and go together in a natural, obvious andl foolproof manner, in which there are no small parts to be dropped or lost, no complicated or difficult ritual to be lfollowed in assembling and disassembling, and a folding net in which the net frame sections are automatically locked in open position and cannot collapse in use.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the description and claims to follow, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention, and in which- Fig. l is a face view of the net with the net frame open and the handle attached, all in position for use, the handle being shown broken to indicate any desired length;

Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail inside face View of the hinge member at the handle end of the net frame sections, taken from the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section view of the same parts taken on the line 3 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 of Fig. .4 and showing the connection of the handle with saidl hinge member;

Fig. 6 is a View like Fig. 4 but with the handle disconnected and the net frame sections in folded position;

Fig. '7 is a view on the line 7 7 of Fig. l of the hinge member joining the outer ends of the net frame sections; f

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig, '7 and showing the pivotal connection ofthe net section to the hinge member joining the outer opposed ends of said sections;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the inner end of the handle of the net; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the net frame with its sections in folded position.

device comprises a net vframe 2l) and a handle 24 and, of course, a funnel-shaped net 22 which is strung on and attached as usual to the frame 29- and hangs therefrom.

The frame when spread open in flat form for use, as indicated in Figs. l and 2, is preferably of a general heart-shaped oval, though it may be circular or any form desired. It is made in two similar or half sections 23, 23 hinged together at their opposed ends at diametrically opposite inner and outer points, so as to be foldable together upon each other, as indicated in Fig. 10. These sections 23 are preferably of metal tubing for lightness and strength, and for still further lightness, of aluminumA or other suitable material. The ends of these frame sections 23 are flattened, the better to fit into the hinge members, as later explained, by inserting a shouldered plug or short rod of steel or other strong metal, riveting or otherwise securing it in the end of the tube 23 and attening the projecting end for the hinge purposes. Thus, at the outer ends of sections 23 the ends 24 of the tubes 23 may be seen, as also in Fig. 7. Similar strong and hard metal ends 25 are provided for the inner ends of frame sections 23 and may be secured to the tubes in the same way.

The metal hinge or link member 2E atthe outer end or side of the net frame, as more clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 8, is of channel or U-form in cross section and long enough to overlap the two flattened ends 24 of the frame sections, which are pivotally secured rto and in the link or hinge Vmember 26 by the rivets or similar pivotal means 2l, 2l. This hinge or link, with its open side and the pivotal connection of the sections between the two side walls thereof, allows the sections to be swung or folded together, as in l0, or to spread and lie out flat in the same plane as in Figs. 1 and 2. At the same time the bottom wall 26a of the U-link at the ends thereof engages the edges'of the flattened ends 2i and acts as a stop to tend to prevent the frame sections from opening or swinging beyond or back of the open face plane of said sections of Figs. l and The hinge and link member 28 at the other or inner side or en'd of the net frame, the handle end or side, is preferably of metal having a U-slot or channel 28a therein corresponding to that of the other hinge member 26, in which the iattened ends 25 of the net frame sections 23- are pivoted :on suitable screws 29. These screws, preferably with countersunk heads, pass through the inner wall 28h of the slot or channel of the hinge, through the apertures in the dat ends 25 of the net sections and securelyl thread .into dead-end holes in the outer oropposite wall 28e oft the slot or' channel` 28a, thereby providing smoothiesteriors on both slot Walls. 1

The net frame sections 23 may thus pivot on the said screws 29 in the hinge member 2B in folding and unfolding, as indicated in Figs. 1, 6 and l0, and lie substantially parallel to each other when folded, as shown in Fig. 10.

A suitable shim or wear plate or strip 3G, Figs. 4, and 6, preferably lines the bottom wall of the slot 28a in hinge member 23, and may be suitably riveted in place as shown in Figs. fi and 6. When the sections are opened, Fig. Il, they are supported in that position by the strip and when closed, Fig. 5, their ends engage the strip and tend to be held erect or at right angles thereto.

This hinge member 26 also provides means for connection of the detachable handle 2l with the net frame. llor this purpose the member is proe vided with an outer socket extension 3i which is perpendicular to the plane of the Wall 28o of the hinge slot. rlhe handle includes preferably a circular metal tube 32 and the socket 45 in the extension 3l to receive its end is the same in cross section. This construction is shown more in detail in Figs. 5 and As here shown, a sol-id plug i having circumferentially projecting ange 33a is tightly tted and secured in any desired way in the end of tube 32. The two side faces of said flange 33a may be considered as shoulders, the one abutting the end of the hanle tube 32 in the assembled plug tube and the other adapted to engage the wall 2SC when the handle is in the socket 135. A cross aperture mit in the plug contains a coil spring 3e and a headed pin 35 outwardly pressed by the spring. The outer end of the pin 35 is rounded, as indicated, for ease in attaching and removing the handle. Thus, to insert the handle in the socket the pin is depressed 'oy the thumb or linger until its rounded end engages the edge of the socket, when a further push on the handle causes the pin to depress until the handle slides into the socket. When the corresponding aperture in the socket wall is reached, the pin springs into it, as shown in Fig. 5, and the handle is securely attached to the hinge member. Withdrawal of the handle is effected in a similar manner. The rounded end of the pin 35 is depressed by the fingers, acompanied by a pull and possibly a twist of the handle, until the inner edge of the socket aperture engages the rounded surface of the pin, when the latter will be completely depressed to free the handle and permit its ready withdrawal from they socket.

Thus, the pin 35 not only secures the handle lengthwise in the socket but prevents the rotation of the handle in the socket, vwhereby full control cf the net frame by the handle is obtained. The pin aperture may be located rotatively at any desired place around the socket extension, but is most conveniently placed where shown.

This handle may be of any desired length, as is intended to oe indicated by the break therein shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be of an extensible telescoping tube type well known in the art. It is preferably of aluminum or other light instal and is sturdy and strong. A handhold 36 of rub-` ber or other suitable material may be mounted on the outer end of the handle tube which grips the tube and affords a good hand grip thereon for manipulation of the net.

To prevent the net frame sections from folding and the collapse of the net when in use, locking means are provided to lock the sections in their open flat position, and this locking means is preferably controlled by the handle, and further may be so constituted that the sections cannot be locked from folding except in their wide open position or locked against unfolding by the premature connection of the handle with the sections and that the handle cannot be attached to the net frame except when the sections are opened up flatly. Thus, accidental collapse of the net is avoided, since it cannot be used except when the handle is attached, and the handle cannot be operatively attached save only when the sections arek opened fully, which is the natural way and time of applying it.

This locking is accomplished in this instance by providing the plug 33 in the end of the handle with the inner projecting pin 37. This pin, when the handle is inserted in the hinge socket and the net frame sections are in flat open position, fits into the recesses 38, 35i in the ends 25 of the net sections, and prevents said sections from moving from that position. They are held in that position by the pin 3'! and cannot collapse whil'e the pin is inserted', and that is when the handle is attached to the frame. The parts are so formed that in no other position of the sections is the pin 31 able to pass between them into the recesses 33 than in the position of Fig. 4 which is the flat open position of the sections. As noted in Fig. 5, the pin 3l passes through a suitable close-tting aperture il in the wall 2te of the slot 23a and thence between the ends of the sections. lt is therefore strongly supported adjacent said sectional ends and is made of metal not readily crushed, sheared or deformed by said ends in tending to turn on their pivots 29.

The net 22 may be of the usual funnel form and construction and is looped around and suspended by the net frame, as indicated. When the sections of the frame are folded together, as indicated in Fig. l0, the net, which is then collapsed, rnay be Wrapped around the folded sections without removing the same from the sections. The handle, which necessarily, as explained, is removed from the net frame at that time, may be placed alongside the folded sections, the whole taking up relatively small space for packing or packaging. When it is desired to use the net, it is very quickly put in condition therefor. The net may be unrolled by swinging the sections around in a circle while held in one hand (it may be rolled up in the way), the two sections spread out flatly and the handle quickly inserted, pin responding to nger pressure to enable the handle to be inserted into the socket. This is not only the natural way to handle the two parts, but they cannot go together in any other way, and when so put together the sections are locked in the open useable position and cannot collapse through inadvertenc'e or otherwise or' failure properly to tighten some part. And folding up the net after use is equally simple and expeditious'. The pin can be depressed by the finger while pulling on the handle With the same hand, the net frame being grasped by the other hand. the handle out, the sections may be folded instantly and the net wrapped around the same. -Y

The nets, of course, are not removed from the frame for such folding and unfolding, and ordinarily Vare of long life, but if it is desired to use a net of different mesh or for vother reason to change the same, one of the screws 26 may be taken out of the hinge member 2s, the end of the section separated slightly from the hinge and the net be threaded thereover for both sections of the entire frame.

The foregoing is intended fully to disclose the construction and operation of the particular folding landing net shown and embodies the invention or inventions sought to be claimed. It is appreciated, however, that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be claimed, and it is therefore sought to cover all such variations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A landing net comprising a, foldable net frame and a detachable handle therefor, said frame being in two sections, hinge members to which the opposed ends of the sections are pivoted and enabling the sections to be opened fiatiy or to be folded vupon each other, the said handle being detachably connected to one hinge member when the said sections are wide open, and a pin on the attachable end of the handle engaging the ends of said sections and locking them in that position when the handle is so attached, the said sections having portions adapted to move into the path of attachment of said p-in and block the attachment of the pin and handle to the hinge when the sections are moved out of the said open at position,

2. In a landing net, a ioldable net frame comprising half sections, hinge members to which the half sections of the frames are attached, pivot means for attaching said half sections to said hinge members, one hinge member having a handle socket axially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the pivoted ends of the sections and between them, and a handle for the net adapted to be inserted in said socket and having a pin on its inserted end, said pin engaging between the ends of the said sections between their pivots when inserted in the socket and the sections are in open and nat position to thereby lock the sections in open position, and portions of at least one of the said sections when out of the said open position adapted to be moved into and lie across the path of insertion of said pin and block such insertion of said pin and the handle into the socket to thereby prevent the operative attachment of the handle to the net at such times.

3. A landing net comprising a foldable net frame and a detachable handle therefor, said frame being in sections, hinge members therefor enabling the sections to be opened flatly or be folded together, and means for attaching the handle to one of said members, said means including a pin on the end of the handle, and said member having an orifice to receive the pin, and the said sections having portions adapted to extend into the path of said pin as it is moved past said orice and block the same except4 when the sections are moved into their :at open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 389,335 Spear Sept. 11, 1888 823,113 French et al June 12, 1906 956,803 Fromm May 3, 1910 1,169,311 Walter Jan. 25, 1916 1,430,221 Dukas Sept. 26, 1922 2,457,922 Robinson Jan. 4, 1949 2,515,685 Ash July 18, 1950 

